Improvement in invalid-mattresses



G. B. PRICE. Invalid Mattress.

. No. 202,116. Patented Apr H9, 1878.

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gf ifiw W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'GHARLES B. PRICE, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT lN lNVALI D-MATTRESSES.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patient No. 202,116, dated April 9,187 8 application filed November 26, 1877. 1

To all whomt't may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES B. PRICE, of thecity of Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inInvalid-Mattresses; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section of the mattress on line w01:, showing the opening in the center, the urinal-pan,water-pipe,spongerod, and also how the mattress is used when placed on an ordinarybedstead. Fig. 2 is a top view of the mattress, showing the opening inthe center and urinal-pan, with its waterpipe and sponge-rod. Fig. 3is alongitudinal section of the foot-board of the bedstead, showin g theopening to admit the pan, and also how the opening is closed when not inuse. Fig. 4

is a sectional view of the mattress on line y y,

showing the casing in the groove or opening.

The object of this my invention is to provide an improved mattress thatmay be readily arranged for the invalid to make his evacuations withoutbeing removed from the bed, and also without danger of soiling themattress, the vessel containing the discharges being drawn out at thefoot end through a recess or opening in the under side of the mattressand footboard of the bedstead, which opening is after ward closed by asuitable cover.

This mattress may be used on any ordinary bedstead for sleepingpurposes, is simple in construction, and conveniently arranged foreither purpose, and, by means of its peculiar construction and the"manner in which it is used, it is of much value in preventing bedsores,or in cases of acute rheumatism, typhoid fever, and other similardiseases, in which it would be impossible to'move the patient, itsarrangement relieving the nurse of much disagreeable labor in the careof his patient.

This invention consists in a mattress of suitable dimensions, having themiddle portion of its foot part cut away about half its thickness, orsuficiently large each way on the under side to receive anevacuation-pan loosely. This cut-away portion or recess is cased withwood,

and forms a groove extending from the foot end nearly two-thirds of itswhole length, while the upper part or face of the mattress is intact,forming a plain smooth bed, except a small hole in the center forevacuating purposes, which is afterward closed, when not in use, bymeans of a small tapered stopper made of the same material. I

The top part of the mattress and the evacuating-hole above referred toare covered with a loose gum cloth, that part of which that enters thehole being made in the shape of a hopper or funnel, extending down intothe pan, thereby forming a chute, that will effectually prevent anysoilin'g of the mattress by contact with the discharge from the patient.In the drawings, A'represents the bedstead, which may be made inany ofthe known forms, provided with slats B, on which the mattress rests. Cis the mattress, which may be made of any suitable material, and in formas shown in the drawing. D is the evacuation-opening in the top, whichis made somewhat funnelshaped on the sides and ends. E is the stopper,made of the same material as the mattress, by whichthe opening D may beclosed when not in use. F is the groove or opening on the under side toreceive the evacuation-pan,which open in g extends up about two-thirdsthe length, and cuts up into the mattress about half its thickness. P isa wood casing to hold the groove-opening in shape and prevent soilingthe'mattress. G is the evacuation-pan, which is made in the form of asquare box or trough, as shown in the drawings, but may be made in any,other suitable shape. H is the pipe for supplying the'trough G withwater, and also serves as a handle for operating it, when detached atthe joint I. This last-named pipe His provided with a nozzle having aflat opening or openings, crossing each other, for the properdistribution of the water. J is a funnel-shaped reservoir, to raise ahead with sufficient pressure to supply the pan G, and made detachableat the joint I. K is the sponge-rod in the side of the pan, which entersthe end near the corner, and the pan ishere secured from leakage bymeans of packing or any other suitable device. The inner end of this rodis made to turn up over the nozzle of pipe H, to be in position toreceive water into the sponge L on its end.

This sponge L is used for cleansing the person of the patient from allimpurities caused by the evacuation without moving the patient. N, Fig.3, is the foot-board of the bedstead, showing how the cover of theopening is kept in its place. 0 is this cover, which is provided with asmall dovetail piece on the inside, which drops in behind correspondingbevels on the foot-board. B is a rubber (gum) cloth covering the wholeor a part of the mattress, and having a hopper-shaped portion extendinginto the opening D and covering its walls, so as to protect them fromdefilement by discharges.

Having thus fnlly described the nature and object of this my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, in aninvalid-mattress, is

1. The mattress O, constructed with the recess F in its under side, andhaving the casing P, constituting a covered way, integral with themattress, and adapted to receive, and in combination with, theevacuation-pan G, substantially as shown and described.

2. The invalid-mattress (3, having in its under side, as an integralpart thereof, the cased recess or groove F P, leaving the top of themattress over said recess intact, and having the opening D leading intosaid recess from above, substantially as shown and described.

3. In an invalid'mattress, the combination of a reciprocating arm or rodand a sponge or equivalent cleaning device, substantially as and for thepurpose described.

4. In an invalid-mattress, the combination of a movable sponge and meansfor supplying it with water, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

5. The combination of the evacuating-pan, a water-supply reservoir, anda rod carrying a sponge, substantially as and for the purpose described.

CHARLES B. PRICE.

Witnesses FRANK PARDON, O. HEWITT.

